Update March 31st 2021

With IVA complete, all the rubber "bits" have been removed and my jobs have been focused on final trimming...plus an annoying carb issue

Fitted Headlight grills

Convertible Hood

This turned out to be a bigger job than I expected. Firstly I needed to make a couple of clips to hold the rear frame bar.

 clip to hold the rear frame bar.

Front catches then needed to be fitted to the windscreen frame. The catch positioned in the centre required a recess to be ground out in order to accept the vertical bar holding the rear view mirror. Another job for the Dremel.

Recess cut out the back one of the pieces

Recess cut out the back one of the piece

Attaching the catches required drilling holes through the frame and praying that I didn't catch the glass, which according to Goose at Chesil (Westfield) has happened a few times.

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Catches in place

The GRP front rail which sits on top of the windscreen was then attacked with my Dremel and a fairly rough sanding wheel. It needed a lot of material removed before it would fit. Once finished I gave it a bit of a tidy and a coat of paint and clear lacquer.

Area that will take the glue was masked out prior to painting

Setting up and gluing onto the front rail, just needs patience but another pair of hands would have helped!.

I added some trim to the leading edge just to finish off.

Carburettor Issues

I have a reoccurring issue with one of the carbs, even after stripping, cleaning and resetting the floats it is still leaking fuel when the engine isn't running. Got to take it for repair, I'm out of ideas.

DVLA Registration

I naively thought that once the IVA test was done, it was easy. Well silly me. Registration requires numerous forms and support documentation, thanks goes to Mark at Westfield for invaluable guidance.

Next Jobs

• Finish Hood
• Fit luggage rack
• Fit remaining badges
• Fit bonnet handle
• Fit steering wheel
• Refit Carb 

IVA Results March 2021

5th March 2021

Nice to be able to drive the car (even if it was freezing this morning) more than just on and off the drive. a 55 mile roundtrip to the test centre and other than running rich all good.

The IVA staff were very helpful and I only had one failure due to brake balance. Rear brakes locking up too quickly. Everything else was ok. To rectify I'm going to fit a proportioning valve allowing me to adjust the break fluid pressure to the rear brake circuit. It will mean taking out the fuel tank but no biggy.

Brake Bias Valve 

Overall I'm pretty pleased.

Got the tank out and fitted the proportioning valve into the rear brake circuit up near the master cylinder. Scariest thing was carefully re-bending the existing pipework to a new route to allow for the valve. 

 

16th March 2021

Retested at the DVLA centre today, good new is it passed!!! The proportioning valve did the trick

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Update Feb 25th 2021

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Gearbox issue

It was really nice to drive the car out the garage, however on the test drive it seemed that I had a fault in the gearbox, 2nd gear would not engage when changing from 1st or 3rd. Pulling way in 2nd gear didn't sound "good". 

After several hours messing with the gear selector and gear selector rod unfortunately it seemed that it really was a fault in the gearbox. 

With the car so close to being finished not what I wanted!!!  Engine out time!!!!! 

Engine and gearbox out

Once the engine was out I did notice a small leak from the flywheel seal, a new seal has been fitted, sort of made me feel a bit better about having to take the engine out. It would have needed to come out at some point in order to fix the leak.

Oil from flywheel seal visible in the gearbox case.

The problem in the gearbox has been fixed,  it needed adjustment to the 1st/2nd gear layshaft and reverse gear.

Happy gearbox ready to refit

Engine & gearbox back in the car, quick test drive and 2nd gear now works 😅

IVA Prep

I have gone through my check list of all things relating to the IVA test. Below are a few photographs of the items where the edges need to be "softened".

If anyone wants my check list then let me know, it may not be complete but its a good start

Fixing tab on headlight needs covering

Interior rear view mirror requires rubber edge

Front indicator light requires rubber edge

Door mirror arms require rubber edge

Car overview ready for IVA

I think I have the car ready for IVA, fingers crossed. Booked in for first week of March, just need a dry day!!

Once through the IVA there is still a few jobs to do.

Steering will is for IVA only it will be replaced!